Proverbs 17:12

The book of Proverbs gives us a lot of instruction on a lot of different subjects. One subject that can keep us in God’s wisdom is Godly Follower-ship. Who we follow; where we follow; how we follow are all spoken about in Proverbs. Here is one of them about what happens when we a person full of folly: 

Proverbs 17:12 (ESV)

Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs

rather than a fool in his folly.

I have never meet a wild bear.   Much less one who has been robbed of her cubs.   I have read much about it.  I have heard that a mother bear will do anything to protect her cubs.  So, the picture Solomon is giving us is quite graphic.   Solomon wants us to know that we are on dangerous ground when we are engaged with a fool in their folly.   We sometimes think hanging with a fool is simply innocent fun.  But, Solomon gives us a great warning here.   What would you do if were to meet a bear who was robbed of her cubs?  I would run and run fast ... at least faster than the person next to me.   What do we do, however, when we run into a fool?  What do we do when we are meet with the folly only a fool can bring?   We tend to rub up against it.  We watch it on TV and laugh.  We pay to see it at clubs.   We buy it in paper back books.   We want to embrace it whenever we can.   But, Solomon tells us to run and run fast.   We need to recognize it as soon as possible.   And, when we do, we need to run.  And run fast.